U.S. patent application number 12/238650 was filed with the patent office on 2009-04-30 for plant pot.
Invention is credited to Kenneth Pattison Hendry, Brian Samuel Hughes.
Application Number | 20090107041 12/238650 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38701661 |
Filed Date | 2009-04-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090107041 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hughes; Brian Samuel ; et
al. |
April 30, 2009 |
PLANT POT
Abstract
A plant pot comprising a base and at least one side wall, the
base and the side wall together defining an at least one chamber of
fixed dimensions for receiving an at least one plant and a growing
medium, wherein a plurality of apertures are formed in the at least
one side wall, each aperture permitting passage of a root of the at
least one plant from the chamber through the side wall to an
exterior of the plant pot. Plants, typically trees, are normally
grown in such pots in the ground and their recovery for onward sale
is facilitated by the use of such pots.
Inventors: |
Hughes; Brian Samuel;
(Dundee, GB) ; Hendry; Kenneth Pattison; (Glasgow,
GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TAFT, STETTINIUS & HOLLISTER LLP
SUITE 1800, 425 WALNUT STREET
CINCINNATI
OH
45202-3957
US
|
Family ID: |
38701661 |
Appl. No.: |
12/238650 |
Filed: |
September 26, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
47/66.7 ;
47/73 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01G 9/0291
20180201 |
Class at
Publication: |
47/66.7 ;
47/73 |
International
Class: |
A01G 9/02 20060101
A01G009/02; A01G 23/02 20060101 A01G023/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 26, 2007 |
GB |
0718757.8 |
Claims
1. A plant pot comprising a base and at least one side wall, the
base and the side wall together defining an at least one chamber of
fixed dimensions for receiving an at least one plant and a growing
medium, wherein a plurality of apertures are formed in the at least
one side wall, each aperture permitting passage of a root of the at
least one plant from the chamber through the side wall to an
exterior of the plant pot.
2. A plant pot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apertures are
circular in cross-section.
3. A plant pot as claimed claim 1, wherein the diameter of the
apertures is in the range of 2 mm to 5 mm.
4. A plant pot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diameter of the
apertures is about 3 mm.
5. A plant pot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apertures extend
around the side wall of the plant pot.
6. A plant pot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apertures extend
upwards from the base along a vertical length of the side wall of
the plant pot.
7. A plant pot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apertures are
evenly spaced in an array.
8. A plant pot as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of
apertures are formed in the base of the plant pot.
9. A plant pot as claimed in claim 8, wherein the apertures in the
base are 2-5 mm in diameter.
10. A plant pot as claimed in claim 1, comprising a plurality of
chambers, each chamber suitable to receive at least one plant.
11. A plant pot as claimed in claim 1, having an internal volume in
the range of 5 and 30 liters.
12. A plant pot as claimed in claim 1, having more than 100
apertures.
13. A plant pot as claimed in claim 1, having less than 1000
apertures.
14. A method of growing a plant comprising the steps of: providing
a plant pot comprising a base and at least one side wall, the base
and the side wall together defining an at least one chamber of
fixed dimensions; locating a plant and a growing medium in the
chamber of the plant pot; locating the plant pot containing the
plant and the growing medium in a hole in the ground; permitting
root growth through a plurality of apertures formed in the side
wall of the plant pot and into the ground surrounding the plant
pot; and when the plant has reached a desired level of maturity,
digging-up the plant pot including the plant and the growing
medium.
15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the level of maturity
is between 2 and 6 years.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119 to United Kingdom Patent Application Serial No. 0718757.8
filed on Sep. 26, 2007, entitled "Plant Pot," the disclosure of
which is hereby incorporated by reference.
INTRODUCTION TO THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a plant pot. In particular,
but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a plant pot
of a type suitable for use in the field growing of plants.
[0003] In the horticultural industry, it is common practice to
`field-grow` plants directly in the ground for a number of years
and, when the plant has reached a sufficient or desired level of
maturity, to transfer the plant into a pot for onward transport to
a customer, and/or for display and sale in a retail outlet such as
a garden centre. This growing method is particularly applicable to
trees, which are relatively slow growing.
[0004] A significant problem with this growing method is that the
plant roots, being unconstrained when field-grown, develop an
extensive root network which is frequently damaged when the plant
is dug-up for transfer to a pot. As a result, a significant number
of field-grown plants die within a few days or weeks of being
dug-up and transferred to a pot. The suitability of this growing
method is also dependent to a great extent upon the sensitivity of
the plant in question to such treatment, some plants being more
sturdy and less likely to suffer permanent harm than others.
[0005] It is therefore amongst the objects of embodiments of the
present invention to obviate or mitigate at least one of the
foregoing disadvantages.
[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a plant pot comprising a base and at least one side
wall, the base and the side wall together defining an at least one
chamber of fixed dimensions for receiving an at least one plant and
a growing medium, wherein a plurality of apertures are formed in
the at least one side wall, each aperture permitting passage of a
root of the at least one plant from the chamber through the side
wall to an exterior of the plant pot.
[0007] Typically an at least one plant and growing medium is
supplied into the pot chamber, and the filled/partially filled pot
is then located in a hole in the ground in a suitable location.
Root growth through the apertures occurs, giving the plant access
to nutrients and/or water. When the time comes to dig-up the plant,
this is achieved simply by digging around the pot (if necessary)
and lifting the pot up out of the ground. The roots which
established by growing out through the apertures in the pot shear
off and remain in the ground (although it is envisaged that a
quantity of roots may have sufficient rigidity to resist shearing
and thus may remain in place). In this fashion, a main root ball or
clump of the plant, grown and held within the chamber, remains
intact, reducing injury to the plant when compared to conventional
field-growing techniques.
[0008] It will therefore be understood that providing a plant pot
having an at least one side wall including such apertures permits
the plant to grow and develop a root system extending from the
chamber into the ground around the pot, so that the plant may
access water and/or nutrients, but restricts growth of said roots
such that shearing of the roots when the pot is removed from the
ground does not result in a fatal damage to the plant.
Additionally, a main root ball or clump formed within the pot
chamber remains substantially intact during this process.
[0009] The plant pot may be adapted, in use, to be at least partly
buried and thus to be at least partly located below ground level.
The plant pot may be adapted to be located, in use, with the
apertures below ground level.
[0010] The plant pot may be of a sufficient rigidity such that the
pot defines the fixed dimension chamber in the absence of an at
least one plant and growing medium, and may also be of sufficient
rigidity such that the pot substantially retains its shape (and
thus the dimensions of the chamber) following location of an at
least one plant and growing medium in the chamber. This may
facilitate location of the plant in the pot, and charging of the
growing medium into the pot.
[0011] The apertures may be circular in cross-section, and may have
a diameter in a range of 2 mm to 5 mm, inclusive. In a preferred
embodiment the apertures may have a diameter in the range of 2.5 mm
to 3.5 mm. In a more preferred embodiment, the apertures may have a
diameter of about 3 mm. Providing the apertures at a diameter of
about 3 mm has been found to offer particular advantages in terms
of: permitting growth of a root of sufficient diameter to enable
recovery of adequate levels of nutrients and/or water from the soil
surrounding the pot; restricting growth of the root to an extent
which would be likely to result in the root deforming and/or
breaching a wall of the aperture and thus damaging the pot;
restricting growth of the root to an extent that damage to said
root does not result in a fatal injury to the plant when the pot is
lifted from the ground; and in restricting growth of the root to an
extent that a main root growth activity occurs within the pot
chamber and thus that the plant develops a strong root ball or
clump within the chamber.
[0012] Typically, in providing apertures within the above range and
in particular at a 3 mm diameter, the at least one plant develops a
main root which extends through the growing medium towards an
internal opening of an aperture. Further free growth of the root
through the aperture is restricted by selection of the aperture
diameter to be in the above range. A callous then forms on the root
at a location adjacent the aperture internal opening, causing an
extended root portion to be thrown from the callous through the
aperture, the extended portion being of sufficiently small diameter
to pass through the aperture and into soil surrounding the plant
pot.
[0013] The apertures may extend around a perimeter or circumference
of the plant pot, and/or may extend in a direction along a length
of the side wall of the plant pot. At least some of the apertures
may be arranged in arrays or patterns of apertures, and the shapes
of the arrays or patterns may be selected to promote root
growth.
[0014] The apertures may extend around the side wall of the plant
pot. The apertures may extend upwards from the base along a
vertical length of the side wall of the plant pot. The apertures
may be evenly spaced in an array.
[0015] The volume may be in the range of 5 and 30 liters for
example the plant pot may have an internal volume of 5, 7.5, 10,
15, 20, 25 or 30 liters.
[0016] The plant pot may have more than 100 apertures. The plant
pot may have less than 1000 apertures, preferably less than 500
apertures.
[0017] In one embodiment a 7.5 liter plant pot has 164 apertures.
In another embodiment a 10 liter plant pot has 180 apertures.
[0018] The plant pot may be circular in cross-section, or may be
polygonal in cross-section and thus the plant pot may comprise a
plurality of side walls. For example, the plant pot may be square
in cross-section and thus may comprise four side walls, each side
wall comprising a plurality of apertures.
[0019] A plurality of apertures may also be formed in the base of
the plant pot, and the apertures in the base may be of similar
dimensions and/or arranged in similar arrays or patterns as the
apertures in the at least one side wall. The apertures in the base
of the plant pot may be between 2 and 5 mm in diameter.
[0020] The apertures may be drilled or otherwise formed in the side
wall of the plant pot. Alternatively, the plant pot may be
manufactured including the apertures. For example, the plant pot
may be of a plastics material and the pot may be molded to include
the apertures.
[0021] In alternative embodiments, apertures of alternative shapes
and/or diameters or dimensions to that defined above may be
provided.
[0022] It will be understood that references herein to plants
should be taken to include, inter alia, trees, herbs,
bushes/shrubs, grasses, perennial, biennial and annual plants and
the like. In addition, it will be understood that references herein
to a growing medium for plants should be taken to include naturally
occurring and manufactured or synthesized mediums including, inter
alia, soils, composted material, fertilizers and combinations
thereof.
[0023] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a method of growing a plant comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a plant pot comprising a base and at least one side
wall, the base and the side wall together defining an at least one
chamber of fixed dimensions; (b) locating a plant and a growing
medium in the chamber of the plant pot; (c) locating the plant pot
containing the tree and the growing medium in a hole in the ground;
(d) permitting root growth through a plurality of apertures formed
in the side wall of the plant pot and into the ground surrounding
the plant pot; and (e) when the plant has reached a desired level
of maturity, digging-up the plant pot including the plant and the
growing medium.
[0024] When the plant pot is dug-up, a majority or all of the roots
which have grown through the apertures may be sheared and may
remain in the ground.
[0025] The level of maturity may be between 2 and 6 years, such as
4 years.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plant pot in accordance
with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the
plant pot of FIG. 1 shown in use in the field-growing of a plant;
and
[0028] FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional plan view of the plant
pot of FIG. 1 showing a root system of the plant of FIG. 2 in more
detail.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] The exemplary embodiments of the present invention are
described and illustrated below to encompass a plant pot. In
particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a
plant pot of a type suitable for use in the field growing of
plants. Of course, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill
in the art that the preferred embodiments discussed below are
exemplary in nature and may be reconfigured without departing from
the scope and spirit of the present invention. However, for clarity
and precision, the exemplary embodiments as discussed below may
include optional steps, methods, and features that one of ordinary
skill should recognize as not being a requisite to fall within the
scope of the present invention.
[0030] Turning firstly to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view
of a plant pot, (or a container for a plant) in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plant pot
indicated generally by reference numeral 10.
[0031] The plant pot 10 is circular in cross-section, and generally
comprises a base 12 and a side wall 14. A plurality of apertures 16
are formed in the side wall 14 of the pot 10. In the illustrated
embodiment, the plant pot 10 is of a plastics material of a type
typically used in the manufacture of conventional plant pots, and
the apertures 16 are formed in the side wall 14 using a suitable
drill. However, it will be understood that the plant pot may be
molded including the apertures.
[0032] In the preferred embodiment shown, the apertures 16 are
about 3 mm in diameter, although other diameters may be selected,
typically within the range of 2 mm to 5 mm, inclusive. As will be
described below, however, forming the apertures with a diameter of
about 3 mm offers particular advantages in use of the pot 10. The
apertures 16 extend around a circumference of the pot 10 side wall
14, as well as along the vertical length of the side wall 14.
[0033] The plant pot base 12 and side wall 14 together define a
chamber 18 of fixed dimensions for receiving a plant and a growing
medium for the plant, which will be described below. Providing the
plant pot defining such a fixed dimension chamber 18 facilitates
location of a plant and charging of a growing medium into the pot
10.
[0034] The plant pot 10 has a particular utility in the
field-growing of plants, especially trees, which are relatively
slow growing, and is shown in a field-growing situation in the
partial cross-sectional perspective view of FIG. 2. A plant in the
form of a tree 20 has been located in the chamber 18 of the pot 10,
together with a suitable growing medium 22 (typically a balanced
mixture of soil/compost/fertilizer). The filled pot 10 is then
transported to a location in which the tree 20 is to be
field-grown, although it will be understood that the pot 10 may be
filled on-site. A hole 24 is dug in ground 26, and the filled pot
10 is located in the hole, and the space around the pot 10
back-filled.
[0035] In FIG. 2, the soil in the area of ground 26 below a surface
28 level is shown in cross-section, to ease illustration of a root
system 30 of the tree 20 which has developed over a period of time.
Reference is also made to FIG. 3, which is a partial
cross-sectional plan view of the pot 10 showing the root system 30
in more detail.
[0036] Over time, the tree 20 develops a main root ball or clump
(not shown) within the chamber 18 of the pot 10. The tree 20, in
seeking water and nutrients, also throws roots towards the
apertures 16 in the pot side wall 14. By forming the apertures 16
to be of about 3 mm diameter, growth of the roots through the
apertures 16 is restricted. This is illustrated in FIG. 3, where a
main root 32, thrown from the root ball or clump, has encountered
an aperture 16. Initially, the root portion 32 attempts to force
its way through the aperture 16, resulting in the formation of a
callous 34. After a further time period in which the root portion
32 has found it impossible to grow and extend through the aperture
16, an extended root portion 36 shoots off from the callous 34 and
passes through the aperture 16. This extended portion 36 passes
into the ground 26 surrounding the pot 10, and facilitates recovery
of water and nutrients from the ground 26, stimulating growth of
the tree 20.
[0037] Careful selection of the aperture 16 diameter to be in the
range of 2 mm to 5 mm and in particular about 3 mm, ensures that
the growth of the extended root portion 36 is restricted. In
particular, the diameter of the root portion 36 is restricted such
that the root portion does not deform the aperture 16.
Additionally, in restricting root growth in this fashion, the root
potion 36 is prevented from growing to a sufficiently large
diameter that would both cause difficulties in subsequent
transplantation of the tree 20, and which would cause potentially
fatal injury to the tree 20 should the root portion 36 be damaged
during transplantation. Indeed, selection of the aperture diameter
as described above produces an extended root portion 36 which is
specifically intended to shear off when the tree 20 is to be
transplanted, this being achieved without fatal injury to the tree
20.
[0038] It will be appreciated that an extensive network of such
extended root portions 36 forms over time, as shown in FIG. 2. When
the tree 20 has reached a desired level of maturity, the entire
filled plant pot 10 is dug-up from the ground 26. During this
process, most or all of the extended root portions 36 shear off and
remain in the ground. However, as described above, this is not
fatal to the tree 20, and the main root ball or clump within the
chamber 18 remains largely or completely intact. The pot 10 is then
transported to a retail outlet such as a garden centre, and is
maintained in the pot 10 for storage and display purposes. It will
be appreciated, however, that the tree 20 in the filled pot 10 is
suitable for direct sale to a customer following removal from the
ground 26.
[0039] Various modifications may be made to the foregoing without
departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
[0040] For example, the plant pot may define a plurality of
chambers, each chamber being for receiving a respective plant. If
desired, a plurality of plants may be located in the or each
chamber.
[0041] The apertures may be arranged in alternative arrays or
patterns, and the arrays or patterns may be selected to promote
root growth.
[0042] The plant pot may be of alternative shape, and may be
polygonal (for example, square) in cross-section.
[0043] Apertures may be provided in the base and may be sized
similarly to the apertures in the side wall.
[0044] Following from the above description and invention
summaries, it should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
art that, while the methods and apparatuses herein described
constitute exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the
invention contained herein is not limited to this precise
embodiment and that changes may be made to such embodiments without
departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.
Additionally, it is to be understood that the invention is defined
by the claims and it is not intended that any limitations or
elements describing the exemplary embodiments set forth herein are
to be incorporated into the interpretation of any claim element
unless such limitation or element is explicitly stated. Likewise,
it is to be understood that it is not necessary to meet any or all
of the identified advantages or objects of the invention disclosed
herein in order to fall within the scope of any claims, since the
invention is defined by the claims and since inherent and/or
unforeseen advantages of the present invention may exist even
though they may not have been explicitly discussed herein.
* * * * *